Lexus’ ‘December to Remember’ Deals Are Even Better in 2017

For most automakers, sales events come and go. Maybe they work and clear lots of excess inventory. Maybe they flop and only move a few units. But very, very few campaigns are as iconic and celebratory asLexus’ “December to Remember” event. Now in its 18th year, what might be the greatest automotive marketing campaign of all is gearing up for record results.

Also, when it comes the perfect time to purchase a new vehicle, most experts agree that this time of year is ideal because this is when dealerships entice customers with hard-to-resist offers that are generally much better than any promotions launched earlier in the year. As CarsDirect‘s Senior Pricing Analyst Alex Bernsteinmakes clear, now is the best time to buy a Lexus if you have your mind set on a particular model, but it may not be the most comfortable time if you’re still undecided and looking to spend a lot of time comparison shopping.

“If you like to take your time with test drives and have every question answered at your pace, the (unpopular) truth is that holidays are not the best time to shop but are generally a better time to buy,” says Bernstein in a recent CarsDirect post, “Are Holidays Really a Good Time to Buy?“

“Holidays unfortunately tend to be hectic at dealerships, so giving yourself enough time to decide on the right car is important…it may save you serious money to do your research in advance,” he adds. “No single strategy works for all shoppers but we feel most people love getting a great deal on exactly the car they want.”

And, of course, as most Lexus fans already know, “December to Remember” typically presents the best opportunity of the year to buy or lease a Lexus. In fact, when comparing last year’s offers to this year, we found some pretty exciting deals. For starters, Lexus is offering new IS Turbo leases as low as $299 a month or 0.9% financing for up to 60 months. The best price offered in 2016 for the same ride bottomed out at $329 a month.

‘Lexus likes to add offers where they cover your first lease payment. These kinds of perks tend to come up during holidays and are worth looking out for.’

Cash back offers for this year’s “December to Remember” are even more enticing. This year, Lexus is offering $4,000 back on IS models, versus only $2,500 last year. The same lease and finance offers apply to the ES, but with a slightly lower $3,500 in Lexus cash.

If you’re in the market for an SUV, offers are slightly less generous but still impressive, which isn’t surprising considering their current popularity. So, there are still deals to be found.

When it comes to shopping for any type of Lexus, Bernstein suggests that you look for perks like complimentary lease payments.

“Lexus likes to add offers where they cover your first lease payment,” says Bernstein. “Earlier this year they offered to pay up to $850 of the first payment on the 2015 GS 350, making it a top lease deal. These kinds of perks tend to come up during holidays and are worth looking out for.”

“Watch for subtle shifts in lease deals with changes in the amount due at signing,” he adds. “We’ve seen cases where both the monthly payment and amount due at signing are both lower, resulting in an unusually good deal.”

NX Turbo customers are eligible for lease deals as low as $299 a month. That’s a particularly good deal compared to last year’s $349 offer, especially when you consider the lower upfront signing costs ($2,499 vs. $2,999). If you prefer to buy, all Lexus SUVs offer financing as low as 1.9% for up to 72 months for top tier credit customers. And Lexus cash is available as well, ranging from $2,000 for the NX all the way up to $4,000 for the range-topping GX.

And as usual, Lexus is going all out with an entertaining advertising campaign to lure you into the showroom. This year’s “December to Remember” event centers around the theme of experiencing the childlike excitement of the holidays. Which we can certainly relate to. After all, what adult wouldn’t revert to a screaming and overly excited kid after receiving a Lexus as a gift?

That essence is captured perfectly in three new commercials aimed at our inner children. All the spots start out innocently enough, with what appear to be little kids coming across different Lexus models wearing iconic red bows. And if it seems strange that a kid would think these extravagant gifts are theirs, it is. Because these “kids” are all actually grown adults.

After 17 years of “December to Remember,” we’ve come to expect both excellent ads and excellent offers from Lexus. This year, they certainly didn’t disappoint. Chances are, no matter which model you’re in the market for, you’ll find that now might just be the best time to step up to a new ride. So if you’re ready to unleash your inner child and give yourself (or your significant other) the ultimate Christmas gift, head over to your Lexus dealer before the sale ends on Jan. 2. But we wouldn’t recommend trying out the dance moves these kids show off afterwards. After all, some of us just aren’t as limber as we used to be!